Seattle Seahawks vs Washington Commanders Match Player Stats: Geno Smith’s Precision Seals 28-17 Road Win

The Seattle Seahawks vs Washington Commanders Match Player Stats marched into FedExField and delivered a clinical, mistake-free performance that the Washington Commanders simply could not match. A 28-17 final scoreline didn’t fully capture the discipline gap, as Seattle controlled the clock for over 34 minutes and scored on four of its first five possessions. From the opening snap, the Seahawks’ balanced offensive attack kept Washington’s defense guessing, while a relentless pass rush eventually broke down a Commanders offensive line that had no answers after halftime.

What unfolded on the artificial turf was a masterclass in complementary football. Seattle’s offensive line allowed just one sack, the running back duo averaged 4.9 yards per carry, and quarterback Geno Smith targeted nine different receivers without committing a turnover. Washington, on the other hand, squandered a fast start with back-to-back third-quarter interceptions and a fumble deep in its own territory, turning a 10-10 halftime deadlock into a two-score deficit.

Match Overview

Core Match Statistics Overview

A side-by-side look at the raw team numbers immediately highlights why the Seahawks left Maryland with a double-digit victory. Seattle’s ability to convert third downs at nearly 50% crushed Washington’s 27% rate, and the turnover margin favored the visitors by three.

Rushing Efficiency and Gap Control

Seattle’s ground game didn’t just accumulate yards; it bled the clock and consistently set up manageable second and third downs.

• Kenneth Walker III and rookie Zach Charbonnet combined for 127 rushing yards at 4.9 yards per carry, repeatedly bursting through arm tackles in the second level.
• Washington’s defensive line allowed 3.2 yards before contact per rush, a stark contrast to Seattle’s front, which held Commanders running backs to 1.1 yards before contact.

Third Down and Situational Discipline

This statistical chasm decided the game well before the fourth quarter. Seattle’s offense consistently moved the chains, while the Commanders’ unit regressed under pressure.

• The Seahawks converted 4 of 6 third downs of seven yards or longer, primarily via Geno Smith’s quick out routes to Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
• Washington went 0-for-5 on third downs in the second half, with three ending in sacks or throwaways.

Pass Protection and Pressure Differential

Even without blitzing heavily, Seattle’s four-man rush generated constant discomfort for Commanders quarterback Sam Howell.

• Edge defender Boye Mafe recorded 2.0 sacks and 6 pressures, consistently beating left tackle Charles Leno Jr. with an inside spin move.
• Seattle’s offensive line surrendered only one quarterback hit on Geno Smith across 34 dropbacks, allowing the passing game to operate from a clean pocket.

Period-by-Period Analysis

1st Quarter

• Seattle opened with a surgical 11-play, 75-yard drive, capped by a 4-yard Kenneth Walker III touchdown run right up the middle. Smith completed all five of his attempts on the possession.
• Washington answered with a methodical drive of its own but stalled inside the red zone after a false start penalty, settling for a 32-yard Joey Slye field goal.
• The Commanders’ defense forced a three-and-out on Seattle’s second series, with Montez Sweat batting down a third-down pass, briefly energizing the home crowd.

2nd Quarter

• The quarter turned chippy after a late hit on DK Metcalf sparked a scuffle, but Seattle couldn’t capitalize on the free first down and settled for a 47-yard Jason Myers field goal.
• Sam Howell found Terry McLaurin on a 38-yard contested catch down the right sideline, setting up a 1-yard Brian Robinson Jr.
• Seattle attempted a two-minute drill, but a holding penalty on right tackle Abraham Lucas erased a 22-yard completion, forcing a punt with 0:41 left.

3rd Quarter

• The Seahawks snatched momentum immediately.
• Smith hit tight end Noah Fant on a play-action leak for an 8-yard touchdown three plays later, and Seattle added a two-point conversion pass to Tyler Lockett for an 18-10 lead.
• After a Washington three-and-out, Seattle chewed six minutes off the clock with 11 consecutive runs, finishing with a 36-yard Myers field goal that made it a two-possession game.

4th Quarter

• Linebacker Bobby Wagner punched the ball out from running back Antonio Gibson, and safety Quandre Diggs recovered at the Commanders’ 31. Three plays later, Walker scored his second touchdown from 12 yards out.
• Washington added a late cosmetic score when Howell found Jahan Dotson on a 9-yard slant, but the onside kick bounced out of bounds.
• Seattle knelt out the final 2:19 inside Washington territory, draining the clock to zero without needing another first down.

Seattle Seahawks Player Statistics

Geno Smith – 22/29, 254 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT, 112.3 rating
Smith distributed the ball with the rhythm of a point guard, never forcing throws into coverage. His lone touchdown was a timing route to Fant, and he consistently checked into runs when the Commanders showed light boxes.

Kenneth Walker III – 19 carries, 96 yards, 2 TD; 2 receptions, 18 yards
Walker’s vision on inside zone cuts set the tone. He broke four tackles, three of which came on his second touchdown run, where he pinballed off two defenders at the five-yard line.

DK Metcalf – 6 receptions, 81 yards
Even without a touchdown, Metcalf’s physicality tilted the field. He drew two defensive pass interference flags and moved the chains on all three of his third-down catches.

Boye Mafe – 2.0 sacks, 3 tackles for loss, 6 QB pressures
Mafe’s explosion off the edge single-handedly wrecked Washington’s third-quarter possessions. His sack-strip of Howell was negated by a quick whistle, but his disruption never waned.

Washington Commanders Player Statistics

Sam Howell – 19/34, 227 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT, 67.8 rating
Howell flashed arm talent early but unraveled when forced off his first read. Both interceptions came on passes into double coverage, the product of desperation rather than design.

Brian Robinson Jr. – 14 carries, 52 yards, 1 TD
Robinson ran hard between the tackles but found zero cutback lanes. Twenty-eight of his yards came after initial contact, highlighting the offensive line’s failure to win at the point of attack.

Terry McLaurin – 5 receptions, 93 yards
McLaurin’s deep-ball tracking was elite, yet the offense couldn’t sustain enough drives for him to influence the fourth quarter. He was targeted only once in the final 20 minutes.

Jonathan Allen – 1.0 sack, 2 QB hits, 4 tackles
Allen collapsed the pocket from the interior on Seattle’s lone sack and was the only Washington defender who consistently won his one-on-one battles, but the effort went wasted.

Statistical Leaders Summary Table

Analytical Breakdowns

Why the Seattle Seahawks Won

A Clean Turnover Sheet

Seattle’s offense played zero-giveaway football for the second time this season, a trend that directly correlates with its winning record. The defense, meanwhile, generated three turnovers that produced 11 points.

Dominant Third Down Defense

Clint Hurtt’s unit reserved its best for the money down. Washington converted just 27% of its third downs, largely because Seattle’s zone coverage blanketed the intermediate middle of the field.

Second-Half Adjustments in the Run Game

Seattle ran for 78 second-half yards and drained the energy from Washington’s front seven.

Why the Washington Commanders Lost

Second-Half Quarterback Collapse

Sam Howell’s first-half passer rating hovered above 100; his second-half rating cratered to 39.6. Pressure accelerated his internal clock, and he missed open checkdowns while hunting explosive plays that never materialized.

Inability to Stop the Run on Early Downs

The Commanders surrendered 5.1 yards per carry on first down, constantly putting their linebackers in conflict. That early-down inefficiency set up Seattle’s play-action game, where Smith completed 6 of 7 passes for 97 yards.

Historical Context & Advanced Insights

Season Series Context

The Seahawks and Commanders last met in 2023, a wild 29-26 Seattle home win decided by a last-second field goal. This contest shared none of that volatility. Seattle has now won three straight in the series, each by at least nine points.

Advanced Metric: Passer Rating Under Pressure vs. Clean Pocket

The starkest split came from the quarterbacks’ environments. Geno Smith posted a 128.1 passer rating from a clean pocket, while Sam Howell’s clean-pocket rating was a respectable 104.2. Under duress, Howell’s figure plunged to 38.7, compared to Smith’s 82.5. This explains why Seattle’s four-man rush was worth more than any schematic gamble.

Game Implications & Key Lessons

What This Means for the Seattle Seahawks

• A 3-1 record with back-to-back road wins firmly plants the Seahawks in the NFC West driver’s seat behind a defense generating 10 takeaways through four games.
• The offensive line’s pass protection continuity suggests that this unit can hold up against elite fronts, a vital asset as the schedule stiffens.

What This Means for the Washington Commanders

• Quarterback volatility remains the defining limitation. Howell’s Jekyll-and-Hyde halves raise legitimate questions about the sustainability of a playoff push.
• Defensive line investments aren’t translating to run defense, a flaw that will be exploited weekly until gap discipline improves.

Key Lessons

• Time of possession becomes a devastating weapon when paired with a mistake-free quarterback.
• Reliable pass protection allows intermediate route concepts to replace risky deep shots.
• Turnover margin in the second half separates competitive teams from playoff pretenders.
• A defense that wins with four rushers can mask coverage deficiencies elsewhere.
• Running backs who break tackles on first down destroy defensive game plans.
• Coaching adjustments after halftime — not pre-game scripts — decide closely matched contests.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won the Seattle Seahawks vs Washington Commanders game?

The Seattle Seahawks defeated the Washington Commanders 28-17 on October 1, 2026, at FedExField.

What were Geno Smith’s stats against the Commanders?

Geno Smith completed 22 of 29 passes for 254 yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions, finishing with a 112.3 passer rating.

Did Sam Howell throw any interceptions?

Yes, Sam Howell threw two second-half interceptions, both on passes into heavy coverage, and lost a fumble that led to a Seattle score.

What was the key statistical difference in the game?

Turnover margin (Seattle 3, Washington 0) and third-down efficiency (Seattle 47%, Washington 27%) were the decisive factors.

How did Terry McLaurin perform?

Terry McLaurin caught five passes for 93 yards, including a 38-yard reception, but had just one target after halftime.

When a team wins the turnover battle by three and converts nearly half of its third downs, the outcome rarely swings the other way. The Seattle Seahawks vs Washington Commanders match player stats amplify that reality: Seattle’s balanced offense and disciplined defense overwhelmed a Washington squad that self-destructed after halftime. Efficiency and composure from Smith, Walker, and the pass rush made this a textbook road victory, while the Commanders are left searching for the consistency required to compete in a stacked NFC.